72 | nzdairy Kaikohe 401 1536 Kerikeri 407 7354 Waipapa 401 6654 Kawakawa 404 0842 DAIRY SERVICES » Bay of Islands Veterinary Services Not always wise to chase top production Anne Boswell For Bay of Islands Veterinary Services director and veterinary surgeon Garth Riddle, there’s one simple message for dairy farmers enjoying a strong payout this season: don’t forget about the cows. “The girls need a break as well,” Garth says. “It is important not to milk them on too far at the expense of their condition, because getting them back in calf next season will be difficult – even though it is human nature to want to milk on a bit longer in a good payout year.” Bay of Islands Veterinary Services – which has serviced the region for over 50 years – has clinics in Waipapa, Kaikohe, Kawakawa and Kerikeri. With 18 veterinarians across the four clinics, the business is on hand to provide a full range of veterinary services for the dairy, sheep, beef, equine and lifestyle industries – from health checks to vaccinations, foot care, imaging and surgery requirements. With winter approaching, Garth says dairy farmers are preparing to manage their herd throughout dry off and calving, and the potentially wet and muddy weather it accompanies. “It is important that dairy farmers ensure their cows are dried off in good condition, with good levels of minerals,” he says. “Feeding is extremely important now: getting the herd set up in late lactation will carry them through until springtime.” Other preventative treatments that dairy farmers might administer at this time of year include treatment for liver parasites, during their dry period in autumn, and vaccinations, dependent on the herd. “That might be leptospirosis boosters for dairy cows, and also this season we are looking at salmonella vaccination boosters, making sure Bay of Islands Veterinary Services has clinics in Waipapa, Kaikohe, Kawakawa and Kerikeri. calves have better immunity,” Garth says. With many dairy cows dried off and not walking to the shed every day, Garth says this time of the year is typically stable for feet conditions. “While the cows are dry and they’re not walking, it is reset time,” he says. “However, those dairy farmers winter milking over the wet period will need to remain aware of feet, especially with the weather events we sometimes experience. It is hard to maintain infrastructure during this time.” Garth says minimising herd losses during the winter is achieved by ensuring cows are in good condition going into calving, by feeding them well and providing them with good mineral supplementation to ensure they don’t succumb to metabolic diseases such as milk fever. “Monitoring and checking cows is of paramount importance at this time of year, so when they lie down and present with signs of metabolic disease they are found early and treated. “But generally, wintertime is business as usual for dairy farmers. They are very good at managing their herds and if they think something is abnormal they will call us. “Mostly, it is important to ensure cows get a proper rest and are dried off in good condition, particularly when it is tempting to milk on in a good payout year.” futureproducers.co.nz PROUDLY AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCAL PARTICIPATING VETERINARY CLINIC See product labels for full claim details and directions for use. MARKS-MIN® a registered trademarks of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH, used under license. ACVM Registration No. A011687. © Copyright 2024. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health New Zealand Limited. All rights reserved. NZ-MSP-0026-2024. REMARKABLE RESULTS *Boehringer Ingelheim data on file. ENERGY TO GO THE EXTRA MILE PROVEN* trace mineral injection for cattle to support optimal health, production and fertility, with the added benefit of Vitamin B12 in one convenient injection FERTILITY ENERGY GROWTH IMMUNITY PROUD TO SUPPORT BAY OF ISLANDS VETERINARY SERVICES PROUDLY NZ OWNED Visit www.alleva.co.nz for more information. TURBO® is a registered trademark of Alleva Animal Health Ltd. TURBO Pour-on (A011722), TURBO Injection (A011742), TURBO Initial (A011703) TURBO Minidose (A011937) and TURBO Advance (A011714) are registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997. See www.foodsafety.govt.nz for registration conditions. 1 EGATS 2 EGATS STAGE 3 Worm Parasites Coccidiosis MORE COVERAGE. LESS EFFORT. PUMP UP THE POWER ON LOW GROWTH RATES. Ultimate parasite coverage Can be used in cattle under 120kg SAFER* , STRONGER AND RAIN-RESISTANT. Rain-resistant Pour-on option Injection option with lice control TOTAL CATTLE COVERAGE TURBO® CATTLE DRENCH PROGRAMME 5 WORLD-FIRST FORMULAS Garth Riddle.
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